Tag Archives: hunters

West Michigan’s ghostbusters team: the dynamic Du Shane duo

By Wayne Thomas
Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters


South West Michigan has a rich history when it comes to ghost stories, local urban legends, and paranormal folklore. Some investigating teams and authors are not content in just repeating unsubstantiated details and are on a mission to separate fact from fiction. Responsibly and collectively asking the questions, how many local legends are just myth and how many ghost stories are pure fabrication, is a lofty goal. Kathleen Rydel Tedsen and Todd Clements were previously highlighted as authors seeking the truth.

 

Two more names of paranormal authors that have emerged to the forefront as myth busters are the married couple Nicole (Bray) and the Reverend Robert Du Shane. The dynamic Du Shane duo has authored an impressive list of spooky books including; “Michigan’s Haunted Nightlife,” “Haunted History of Kalamazoo,” “Paranormal Lansing,” and also co-authored “Ghosts of Grand Rapids” with Julie Rathsack. “Ghosts of Grand Rapids” details the real truth of the often told Hell’s Bridge urban legend and uncovered the actual facts of the Michigan Bell Building and the Ada Witch legend. Through their research, the paranormal detectives discovered that the infamous villain of Hell’s Bridge never existed and there is no historical record of a mass murder of children.

 

Nicole and Robert Du Shane

One of Grand Rapids’ most sensational ghost stories revolves around the old Michigan Bell Building and the murder/suicide victims, Warren and Virginia Randall. Tedious research revealed the names and dates in this tragedy have been changed. Did an insanely jealous husband brutally bludgeon his wife to death with his wooden leg? The truth is in the book.

What of the Ada Witch legend? A secret love affair where a cheating wife, her lover, and her enraged husband all end up dead and have haunted the general area ever since. Although no one has been able to prove the grisly details of this legend, the story continues to spread as fact, resulting in disrespect of the dead and the senseless destruction of their final resting place.

The Du Shanes both grew up in homes that were haunted and have shared their paranormal interests for several years. Nicole formed the West Michigan Ghost Hunters Society and the Reverend Robert Du Shane founded WPARanormal Talk Radio, where the couple works together on these and other projects and, eventually, married one another. Each year the Du Shanes also host Ghosts of Grand Rapids Tour and Haunted History of Kalamazoo Tours. Check out these two living legends of the paranormal on WKTV Journal episode #33 of Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Podcast. The Du Shanes are scheduled to be on WKTV, The Whole Picture Podcast in August.     

Nunica Cemetery is noted for its ghosts leading to the founding of Michigan’s most

Ottawa Country’s Nunica Cemetery is one of the most haunted cemeteries in the state and where Gathering Research And Stories of Paranormal Phenomena got its start. (Public Domain)

By Wayne Thomas
Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters


Nunica Cemetery is on top of the list of most haunted cemeteries in the state. The cemetery is located in Ottawa County’s Crockery Township. Ghost hunters report extreme cold spots, otherworldly voices, orbs and floating lights, the spirit of a little girl, a Civil War hero, and the apparition of a “mysterious lady in white.”

Ideally cemeteries serve as locations for the dead to rest in peace but unfortunately mistakes and disrespectful practices can lead to spiritual unrest.

The rumored ghost activity of Nunica Cemetery has also resulted in the birth of one of the most respected paranormal investigative teams of South West Michigan. Bill and Connie Jones of GRASPP Paranormal say they started their adventure on a “whim” one Halloween night with an “impromptu” ghost hunt at Nunica Cemetery. Gathering Research And Stories of Paranormal Phenomena, G.R.A.S.P.P. has evolved from this spooky inception as ghost hunters to include research and investigations into Bigfoot and other cryptids, as well as ufology. With 15-plus years of experience and accumulated knowledge, this unique husband/wife team of paranormal investigators has learned the importance of being dedicated, honest, and objective. Their promise of confidentiality, their emphasis on debunking such things as orbs, and the decision to become a LLC or limited liability company, elevates GRASPP from other teams.

GRASPP will have its upcoming Paranormal Summit for Paranormal professionals, which is May 14 – 16, at the SS City of Milwaukee located in Manistee. (Public Domain)

GRASPP is based out of Grand Haven with about 10 current full-time members, including sensitives. The team utilizes modern equipment and techniques as well as old school dowsing rods, but it’s the discipline of their methods that separates them from most teams.

GRASPP has always been generous helping and educating, but their passion for paraunity has reached a higher level. In 2018, GRASPP focused on Michigan’s mysterious encounters and brought an impressive list of speakers to Grand Haven for an event that they single-handedly orchestrated. The event, Michigan Ghost Coast Paranormal Convention explored such topics as: Demonology, Cryptozoology, Haunts of Mackinac, and UFO sightings; featuring authors, Amberrose Hammond, Todd Clements, Shetan Noir, and William Konkolesky. The significance and synchronicity of this single event cannot be overstated as it started the ball rolling in all different directions. Last year GRASPP organized and hosted an event on the USS LST 393 in Muskegon and followed that with the first Paranormal Summit on board the SS City of Milwaukee docked in Manistee along with being able to investigate the Coast Guard ship USCGC-Acacia.

GRASPP has scheduled the second Paranormal Summit for Paranormal professionals only, May 14 – 16 again on board the SS City of Milwaukee in Manistee. See the Jones’s on GRGHP episode 29. Find additional info at graspp.org.      

As hunting season revs up, WKTV presents a program all about the hunt

starsandstripesJust in time for the hunting season, EP Adventures latest hunting video is set to air on WKTV

 

“Stars & Stripes,” is a video featuring 14 hunts, each of which is dedicated to a different member of the armed services, will air on the station Friday, Oct. 14, at midnight and Saturday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m.

 

The show spans across an entire year, so there is no one hunting season, but rather several.  The military do not do the actually hunting, per se, but the hunts are dedicated to them.

 

According to EP Adventures’ website “The EP Staff would like to thank all of the men and women of our armed forces this hunting season, and we are dedicating each hunt to them. There would be no hunting without freedom, and because of our entire armed forces we have the privilege to enjoy great hunting in this wonderful country. This video is dedicated to all who protect this nation, both foreign and domestic.”

 

starsandstripes2Archery season in Michigan is already underway, running through Nov. 14 with the second archery season running Dec. 1 – Jan. 1. Regular  firearm season is Nov. 15 – 30 with muzzleloading running Dec. 2 – 18. For details on the various hunting seasons, visit the DNR’s website.

 

EP Adventures is made up of a group of hunting friends who include Scott Wiseman, Gina Wiseman, Michael Endres, Jacob Elliott, Bryan Lape, Brayden Lape, Mike Lucchesi, Scott Haney, Brandon Cunnihgha, Rick Karel, Rusty Ackley, Dough Vandewater, Aaron Albrecht, Mathew Schmidt, and Nate Brown.

 

EP Adventures has a series of videos, each focusing more about the hunting action with some tips offered from time to time. For more about EP Adventures, visit epadventures.com.